{"id":242947,"date":"2026-11-02T08:20:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T18:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=242947"},"modified":"2026-11-02T08:20:24","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T18:20:24","slug":"kapono-returns-hawaii-cc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/11\/02\/kapono-returns-hawaii-cc\/","title":{"rendered":"Homecoming: Lei Kapono returns to lead Hawai&#699;i <abbr>CC<\/abbr>"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><figure id=\"attachment_242962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-242962\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-1.jpg\" alt=\"Kapono headshot\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-242962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-1.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-1-130x73.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-242962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Interim Chancellor Lei Kapono returns to <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>, where she previously served from 1998 to 2006.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Donnette Leilani (Lei) Kapono began her tenure as interim chancellor of <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Community College on November 2, returning to a campus where she previously served for eight years and helped expand workforce training and educational opportunities across <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Island.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_242965\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-242965\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-5-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Kapono smiling\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-242965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-5-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-5.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-242965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lei Kapono shares a lighthearted moment during a visit with <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>\u2019s <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Life Styles program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kapono previously worked at <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr title=\"Community College\">CC<\/abbr> from 1998 to 2006, holding several positions in the Office of Continuing Education and Training before becoming a faculty member and program coordinator. Her work included developing training programs in agriculture, healthcare, construction and other industries, often through partnerships serving rural communities.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Related 糖心视频 News story: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/19\/kapono-interim-chancellor-hawaii-cc\/\">Donnette Leilani Kapono named interim chancellor of <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&ldquo;Returning to <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Community College in this role is both a profound privilege and a deeply meaningful homecoming for me,&rdquo; Kapono said. &ldquo;What I look forward to most is reconnecting and developing new relationships with the incredible faculty, staff and students who make <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> such a vibrant place of opportunity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<h2>Collaboration, connection<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_242963\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-242963\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-3-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"people talking around a table\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-242963\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-3-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-3.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-242963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lei Kapono practices hei, the Hawaiian art of string figures, with students in <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>\u2019s <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Life Styles program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Some of her fondest memories at the college are of collaborating with colleagues and community partners and celebrating shared accomplishments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What makes <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> truly unique within the 糖心视频 System is our deep connection to place and community,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We serve <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> Island across diverse campuses and centers, grounding everything we do in Indigenous values, community partnerships and accessible learning.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Kapono continued her career at the University of <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> at Hilo, serving in several leadership positions, most recently as interim vice chancellor for student affairs.<\/p>\n<h2>&lsquo;Community anchor&rsquo;<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_242964\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-242964\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-4-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"5 people standing in front of Hawaii C C model home sign\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-242964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-4-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/hawaii-kapono-lei-4.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-242964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">May 2006: Lei Kapono, center, and <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> CC Rural Development Project Grant staff visit the college\u2019s 39th Model Home Project in <span lang=\"haw\">Pana&#699;ewa.<\/span> From left, Bryan Kusano, Lily Pua Kaipo, Kapono, Tricia Kimura and Alan Salavea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In her new role with <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr>, Kapono\u2019s priorities include ensuring stability and continuity, fostering open communication, advancing student retention and success initiatives, and strengthening relationships with community and industry partners.<\/p>\n<p>She also emphasized the importance of Kauhale, the college&#8217;s shared sense of village, responsibility and mutual support.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;<span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> is not just an institution of learning; it is a community anchor where everyone\u2014students, faculty, staff and community members\u2014plays an essential role,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Kapono will serve for one year or until a permanent chancellor is selected. A national search for the college&#8217;s next permanent leader is underway.<\/p>\n<p>As she begins this new chapter, Kapono expressed appreciation for the dedication of the college community and reaffirmed her commitment to the students it serves.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;To our students: you are the heart of everything we do, and we are dedicated to supporting your dreams every step of the way,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I look forward to listening, learning and working alongside each of you to serve our island community with pride.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.hawaii.edu\/news\/message-interim-chancellor-aloha-hawaii-cc-kauhale\">Read Kapono\u2019s email to the <span lang=\"haw\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> <abbr>CC<\/abbr> campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Follow Kapono on Instagram <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hawaiicc_chancellor\">@hawaiicc_chancellor<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;By Katie Young Yamanaka<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lei Kapono brings visionary local educational leadership to her former campus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":242962,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[61,71],"class_list":["post-242947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Lei Kapono brings visionary local educational leadership to her former campus.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"糖心视频 News\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"hawaii community college,uh community colleges\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" 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